Fruit jar holder



- Jan. 21, 1936 E. J. SCHWARTZ FRUIT JAR HOLDER Filed April 16, 1935 H III INVENTOR Patented Jan. 21, 1936 I UNl'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

which like reference characters designate like give it structural form with resulting rigidity and strength, thereby permitting the use of a relatively light gage metal. Mounted at one end of the base I which is enlarged for such purpose is a retaining band 3 that is riveted at 4 to upstruck portions or ears 5 that are integrally formed with the base I. The strap or band 3 is preferably lined with a band 6 of non-metallic material such as rubber or a rubberized fabric to more intimately align itself to the contour of the jar l to be clamped. The base plate I is further provided with straps 8 that are secured thereto in spaced relation or which may be formed integrally therewith; the strips being in the shape of C clamps and are provided with thumb screws 9 by means of which the base I may be clamped to a support such asa table top designated by the reference numeral Ill.

The base plate I, for a portion of its length, is crimped or folded as shown at H to constitute ways or guides for a movable and adjustable clamping plate l2 having clamping jaws i3 integrally formed as up-struck portions at one end thereof, the opposite end being provided with an 50 up-struck edge l4 that constitutes an abutment for the rounded end I 5 of a lever Hi. The jaws constitute'clamping abutments that cooperate with the strap 3 to grippingly engage the container or jar I. The jaws l3 are bulged as shown at [3c 55 to give them structural form and strength, and

though rigid have a certain resilience to take up the clamping strain. Lever i5 is provided with a bent-over wing portion l'l constituting a grip for its manipulation and is further provided with a rivet I8 that is secured eccentrically of the 5 rounded end l5 and is disposed in a hook-shaped slot l9 provided in the base plate I In Figure 4 the lever I6 is shown as provided with a series of flat surfaces that are angularly spaced and which function to lock the clamping 10 plate l2 in clamping engagement with the jar 'l.

The operation of the above described jar holder or clamp is briefly as follows: The device is secured by fastening the c clamps 8 around theedge of a convenient support such as a shelf or 15 table with the base plate I horizontally disposed.

The jar is placed against the stationary band 3 that constitutes a fixed though resilient abutment and by manipulating the lever I'l theclamping plate I 2 slides in the direction of the jar l to 20 intimately engage the latter. .In the position of the lever shown in Fig. 'l, the pivot or rivet I8 is in the extended position ofthe clamp for clamping jars of maximum diameter. Where a smaller jar is to be clamped, the pivot I8 of the lever is 25 slid. forward inthe hook slot l9 and slipped into the terminus of the hooked end which moves the clamping plate closer to the stationary abutment a distance corresponding to the spacing of the hooked end with the position of the pivot as shown 0 in Fig. 1. The lever is then operable in themanner explained to grippingly engage the jar of smaller diameter.

The lever I6 is shown as provided with a rounded end l5 for engaging the clamp abut- 35 ment l4 and because of its eccentric mounting on the pivot l8, an intimate clamping effect is obtainable and the lever I6 is wedged in the locked position. However, the end of the lever, instead of being circular or rounded, maybe pro- 0 vided with flat faces eccentrically disposed as shown in Fig. 4 to assure locking of the lever in the clamped position.

It is evident from the foregoing description of my fruit jar clamp that it is adapted to yield- 45 ingly-and securely grip glass jars and lock them against rotation thereby enabling the user to securely apply the screw cap thereon. The structural form of the device permits the use of thin gaged metals which produce a light-weight structure, and the formation of the clamping jaws provides a large clamping surface which is resilient to a certain degree.

I claim:

1. A fruit jar holder comprising a base memher of relatively light-weight metal ribbed to constitute a structural section having integral lugs for anchoring an end abutment thereon and having bent-over parallel portions forming ways for a movable clamp, a band of semi-circular form secured to said integral lugs and having a resilient liner thereon, a movable clamp disposed in the ways of the base member having c1amplng ears upstanding thereon constituting abutments that coact with the band to grippingly engage a jar or the like, and'a lever having a fulcrum pin slidably mounted in said base member and having an eccentric surface for engaging the mov,- able clamp, said lever being adjustable relative to the base to accommodate the clampto different sized jars to be engaged thereby.

2. A jar holder as set forth in claim 1 said base member, having a hook-shaped slot for receiving the fulcrum pin of the lever, the terminals of said-slot constituting anchorage abutments for said fulcrum pin whereby the clamping plate is spaced from the stationary clamping abutment different distances corresponding to the spacing of the slot terminals.

3. A jar holder as set forth in claim 1 characterized by a cam-shaped lever having angularly spaced fiat surfaces for engaging the clamping plate to lock same in clamped position. 

